Port of Portland facilities are responsible for moving people and goods on a large scale. Portland International Airport welcomed 15.1 million travelers last year and Port marine terminals moved almost 12 million tons of cargo. With such large volumes of people and goods coming and going, waste is an unfortunate, but inevitable, by-product. In a world of finite resources, minimizing waste and repurposing waste materials doesn’t just feel good, it’s also good business and can provide an array of community benefits as well.

The Port has a robust waste management program in place and benefits from an 11-year partnership with Portland State University’s Community Environmental Services program. Its student consultants, who work out of Port offices, provide the Port with a deeper bench to develop innovative waste management solutions using research, data collection, outreach and technical assistance.